[Prognosis of sarcoidosis]

Sarcoidosis is a frequent, systemic, granulomatous disorder with predominant involvement of the hilar lymph nodes and the pulmonary parenchyma. By bronchoalveolar lavage an activation of alveolar immune cells has been observed yielding a detailed concept of the immunopathogenesis of the disease from which new, clinically applicable staging parameters are delineated. There is some evidence that immunopathogenetic mechanisms determine the course and the prognosis of the disease.